BURMA: President Too Quick to Proclaim State of Emergency

The Asian Human Rights Commission has been following with concern news of the latest outbreak of communal violence in Burma. Although the circumstances of how the violence began are clouded, the president on 22 March 2013 declared an indefinite state of emergency over four townships […]

CSW Urges Burmese Government to Take Action to End Rising Religious Intolerance

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is deeply concerned about a dramatic increase in religious intolerance in Burma, illustrated most dramatically in the recent crisis in the central Burmese town of Meiktilar. CSW calls on the Burmese government to take decisive action to secure the safety of citizens in Meiktilar, where a state of emergency has been declared following three days of sectarian violence that has resulted in at least 20 deaths […]

Urgent Action Needed to Save Muslims in Burma from Pre-Planned Violence

On 20th March 2013 at 10am, a Buddhist couple from Meiktila Township entered a gold shop to try and sell some fake gold and started to threaten and abuse the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper, who tried to defend himself with a stick, suffered a head injury.

After half an hour, a crowd gathered and started stoning the shop and destroyed it. Two hours later, a big crowd came to the town and started destroying property, Muslims’ shops, mosques and houses were burnt down […]

Statement by Vijay Nambiar on Violence in Meiktila Township

The Special Adviser of the Secretary-General, who reached Yangon this evening, expressed deep sorrow at the tragic loss of lives and destruction in Meiktila township in Mandalay division. While firm action by the authorities was needed to prevent further loss of life […]